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Kelaniya Uni. authorities, undergrads hostel dispute goes into 2nd week
A deadlock over a hostel dispute between students and authorities of the Kelaniya University continues for the second consecutive week.
The Kannangara boy’s hostel where some 500 students lodged was attacked, which made the students to forcibly occupy the cafeteria of the university, rejecting the ‘solution’ provided by the authorities.
“We have provided the students with enough security following the incident, where a group of unidentified individuals entered and attacked the university hostel. A police checkpoint was established near the hostel, and in addition to that, a mobile police team also deployed in the area to ensure the security of the students travelling to and from the university,” Kelaniya University’s Student Affairs Director, Dr Anura Karunaratne told Education Times..
He said that, at present, the students are not facing any threats to their security.
However,s University Students’ Council President, Kinsley Gunaratne said that they have taken up lodgings at the cafeteria, as the authorities concerned failed to provide them with a favourable solution.
“Around 400 of us are staying in the place without even basic facilities, and are willing to do so, to make the university authorities provide us with a more practical solution. At present, we are having discussions with them. What we are asking for is a hostel near the university. If the authorities fail to resolve our problem, we will take necessary steps till our demands are met,” Kinsley said, adding that, next they hope to get the public involved in the protest.
Commenting on the issue, Dr Karunaratne said that there is no need for the students to still stay within the university, as their security has been ensured. “We are now wondering if there is a separate agenda behind the students protest for a new hostel. We tried convincing the students to go back to the hostel, but they have refused to do so,” he said, adding that the university authorities have also advertised to acquire a land near the university to build a new hostel.
Dr Karunaratne said that they did so because students complained that the present hostel, which is 2 km from the university, was too far and they found it inconvenient.
The hostel was attacked on September 14 by a group of men who broke into the premises by and damaged 15 motorbikes and another vehicle.
Recalling the attack, Lasitha Maduranga, an undergraduate said that the incident took place around 3 am. “We were asleep that night and were suddenly woken up by a loud noise. We rushed to the front of the hostel, but by then the attackers had fled. We saw pieces of plastic and glass lying around,” he said.
Lasitha said that this was not the first time they were attacked. In the last three years, they have been constantly attacked and threatened by the villagers.
Four persons connected with the attack surrendered to the police and are being interrogated.
- Aanya Wipulasena
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